Pollinator-friendly plant combinations: nectar every month

Why pollinators need your garden

Bees are struggling. Fewer wild flowers in the landscape, pesticides and limited nesting opportunities are causing population declines. But a well-planted garden can make a difference. Not with a single bee hotel, but with a continuous supply of nectar and pollen from early spring through late autumn.

It is all about continuity. A border that only flowers in June helps bees for two months and abandons them the rest of the year. With GardenWorld, experiment with flowering periods and see which combinations provide the longest nectar supply.

The flowering plan: cover every month

March-April (early flyers)

The first bumblebees and solitary bees appear at around 10 degrees. They urgently need food:

• Crocus — plant hundreds of bulbs in the lawn. Simple, cheap and highly effective.
• Pulmonaria (lungwort) — pink-blue, shade-tolerant, flowers for weeks
• Salix caprea (pussy willow) — one of the year's first nectar sources

May-June (peak season)

• Salvia nemorosa — purple-blue spires, a bee magnet
• Geranium 'Rozanne' — flowers from May to October, bees adore it
• Lavandula angustifolia — the classic. Fragrance for you, nectar for the bee.

July-August (summer peak)

• Echinops ritro (globe thistle) — blue globes, beloved by bumblebees
• Verbena bonariensis — purple globes on tall stems, a butterfly magnet
• Agastache (anise hyssop) — aromatic, flowers for months

September-October (autumn flyers)

• Sedum spectabile — flat pink heads, the last major nectar source
• Aster novae-angliae — free-flowering in purple or pink
• Hedera helix (ivy) — often overlooked, but ivy flowers in October and is vital for late pollinators

Four complete combinations

1. Crocus + Salvia + Sedum (sun)

Seasonal coverage in three plants. Crocus in spring, Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' in summer, Sedum 'Herbstfreude' in autumn. Simple, effective and low-maintenance.

2. Pulmonaria + Geranium 'Rozanne' + Aster (part shade)

Lungwort opens the season in March. Geranium 'Rozanne' takes over and flowers until Aster finishes the job in September. All three do well in part shade.

3. Lavandula + Echinops + Verbena bonariensis (dry sun)

A trio for the hot border. Lavender brings fragrance, Echinops structure and Verbena bonariensis height. All three are drought-tolerant and extremely popular with pollinators.

4. Nepeta + Agastache + Helenium (large border)

Catmint as edging, Agastache for long-lasting bloom in the middle and Helenium 'Moerheim Beauty' for warm autumn tones at the back. A border that buzzes.

View the Salvia nemorosa profile in our plant encyclopedia for planting advice.

What to avoid

• Double flowers: double-flowered cultivars often contain no nectar. Choose single flowers.
• Exotic cultivars: heavily bred plants are sometimes worthless for pollinators. Pick varieties close to the wild form.
• Pesticides: even organic sprays like pyrethrin kill bees. Avoid spraying near flowering plants.

Extra tips

• Leave stems standing in winter: solitary bees hibernate in them
• Provide water: a shallow dish with pebbles and water
• Plant in groups: one square metre of lavender is more effective than ten scattered plants

Start your pollinator border

Every scrap of green counts. Even a balcony with three pots of nectar plants helps. Upload your garden photo at gardenworld.app and design a border that buzzes with life.